On January 9, 2023, Sweden publicly announced that it intends to provide Ukraine with the Archer Artillery System in their next aid package.
The Archer Self-propelled howitzer has high maneuverability, strong destructive power and high accuracy. This is considered the best wheeled self-propelled artillery in the world today. Although there is no official confirmation on the number of systems that will be sent to Ukraine, there have been speculations that around 12 units will be delivered to Kiev. On January 9, 2023, Sweden publicly announced that it intends to provide Ukraine with the Archer Artillery System in their next aid package.
In addition to the Archer self-propelled artillery systems, Sweden’s new military aid package will include air defense systems, winter ammunition, and a special aid package that will help the country survive the winter. Sweden is operating 48 Archer self-propelled guns.
Hundreds of self-propelled artillery units have been delivered to Ukraine by the United States and its NATO allies. Compared to older Soviet-era artillery weapons in Russia’s and Ukraine’s arsenals, these howitzers are superior and have given the much-needed firepower edge to the Ukrainian troops.
The ARCHER is an 6×6 truck-mounted 155mm self-propelled howitzer jointly developed and manufactured by the Company Swedish Company Bofors and BAE Systems. The vehicle was developed in 1995, and officially entered service in 2011. It was developed to create a more mobile version of the FH 77B field howitzer with a longer range of fire.
The heart of the system is a fully automated 155 mm/L52 gun howitzer and a M151 Protector remote controlled weapon station mounted on a modified 6×6 chassis of the Volvo A30D, all-terrain truck. The crew and engine compartment is armoured and the cab is fitted with bullet and fragmentation-resistant windows. The system also includes an ammunition resupply vehicle, and a support vehicle.
The howitzer has a maximum firing range of 40km with conventional 155mm ammunition and 60 km with precision-guided munitions including the Excalibur. Maximum rate of fire is 8-9 rounds per minute. The Archer is capable of Multiple-Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) firing. It launches up to 6 shells in 30 seconds, each in different trajectories, so that all of the shells arrive on target at the same time. This self-propelled howitzer has onboard ammunition supply of 20 rounds.
Self-defense armament is a remote-controlled weapon station LEMUR, armed with a heavy 12.7 mm machine gun and smoke grenade launchers. The truck is equipped with a 340 hp Diesel engine. It can run at a maximum road speed of 70 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 1,000 km.
Heavy weapons are constantly being delivered to Ukraine. The face of the battlefield will have major changes in the near future.
